Nice editorial (December 1998). It is good to see John Glenn and his
accomplishments put into perspective. We have all heard too much nonsense
about the politics of his recent space flight. The truth, as you so well
stated it, is that the man is a hero and role model at a time when we
badly need both. Many of our young engineers seem to be lost in the ozone,
and I believe it's due to the lack of mentors, role models, heroes, or
whatever you want to call those kind of folks. Thanks again.

Counter-Response Arthur B. Harris Troy,
Mich.

To the Editor: I have to admit that I
don't recall the letter by Alexander R. Kovnat that appeared in the August
1998 issue, but I do have comments on the letters it generated in December
1998.

First, isn't it strange no one has suggested that one solution to the
impact of our growing population on the world's resources is to stop that
growth.

Second, I take great offense to the suggestion that an engineer who
advocates more nuclear power "is obviously employed in some capacity in
that industry" (Ronald P. Blackburn's letter, "Steamed Up," December
1998)—in other words, such an engineer has prostituted himself. If that is
the way my fellow engineers feel about the competence and motives of their
colleagues, what is the future of our society?

Too
Much Education?Eric Dalton North Augusta, S.C.

To the Editor: I have read with great
interest these last few months the debate about who is an engineer and who
isn't. My recent experience relates to this, yet I am not quite sure how.
I am a senior at the University of South Carolina, but I also spent eight
years in the naval nuclear power program and three years as an assistant
maintenance supervisor for a textile manufacturer.

I interviewed recently at a company for what I believed to be an entry
level engineering position. I learned after an hour of interviews that
what they were really after were shift supervisors and machine
technicians. I asked the last gentleman with whom I interviewed if
personnel from the line, operators, could be promoted to the shift
supervisor position. He said yes. I also discovered that the technical
support position could, and should, be filled by a tech school grad.

I was slightly offended for all engineers that they actually thought
anyone would accept a position that in reality requires no education at
all, just good leadership skills like those developed in the military.

Too many people are going to college. This has caused a glut of college
grads and has caused employers to require a degree for jobs that
previously had no such need. I knew this was happening to business grads,
but did not think that it was happening to us as well.